Dumbwaiter closing and locking device



June 24, 1930; w. A. CURTIS '1'= -"I.68. i2

DUMBWAITER CLOSING AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 24. 1928 3&8 All; (mime/1;

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATE WALLACE A. CURTIS,

on NEW YORK, N. Y.

DUMBWAITER CLOSING AND LOCKING DEVICE Applicationv filed September 24, 1928. Serial No. 308,016.

This invention relates to improvements in closing and locking mechanisms, particularly to a novel and improved dumbwaiter closer and locking device, and it is the principal ohj ect of my invention to provide a device of this character which keeps all the doors of an apartment or like house opening into the dumbWaiter shaft securely closed until released by the superintendent or other employee of the building from the basement.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a closing and locking device for the dumbwaiter doors of simple and therefore inexpensive construction, yet eflicient in operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a dumbwaiter door closing and looking device equipped with means to operate all the chains employed for the closing and opening of the doors simultaneously and for limiting the movements of said operating chains.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a dumbwaiter .door closing and locking device equipped with chains of a certain make one end of which is attached to the door while their other ends are firmly held to the operating cable and present abutments striking and; resting against suitably arsc ranged limiting means.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known, as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be more specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 illustrates a dumbwaiter shaft and a plurality of dumbwaiter doors 4c equipped with a closing and locking device constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates on an enlarged scale one of the dumbwaiter doors and the closing and locking device therefore constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of some of the chain links, a nut, cable and cable guide employed with my invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 44 of Figure 3.

therein As illustrated, in a dumbwaiter shaft 10 a plurality of windows or openings 11 are provided one for each story of a building, each adapted to be closed by a door 12 of the ordinary well known construction.

To each of the doors 12 a'chain l3, preferably of the pattern illustrated in Figure 4 is attached at one end, while its opposite end is guided over a pulley 14 on the door frame 15. n

The lastlink of the opposite end of the chain is widened as indicated in Figure 3 for allowing the passage of a cable 16 and a nut or block 17 is inserted into the widened end of the last chain link to securely hold the same spaced and in engagement with the cable. An eye 18 having a screw-shaft permits of the passage of cable 16 and is screwed into the jamb or frame of the dumbwaiter shaft for limiting the chain and cable movements.

The cable 16 is attached at its upper end to the lower end of a spiral spring 19 the upper end of which is secured, as at 20, to the ceiling or roof of the dumbwaiter shaft. The lower end of the cable 16 is equipped with a convenient operating gripper handle 21. The handle 21 carries a large eye 22 at its extreme lower end adapted to engage a smaller eye 23 in the basement to which access is had by means of a door 24 or the like.

The operation of my device will be entirely clear from the above description and simultaneous inspection of the drawing, when it is desired to open the dumbwaiter doors the superintendent or other employee of a building, preferably an aparatment house, opens door 24 and releases cable .16 which by means of pull exerted on spring 19 will go up as far as the limiting action of screw eyes 18 will permit, and allow the doors of the dumbwaiter to be opened by each of the tenants on the various floors.

After the articles, garbage etc., have been placed on the dumbwaiter a downward pull on the cable 16 will securely close each door, lock the same, and hold the same locked against any attempt of opening on the several stories as soon as the eye 22 is engaged with eye 23. It will be clear that the nuts 17 will firmly connect the chain ends with the cable and by holding the last chain link open or spread an abutment will be formed adapted to strike against the screw eyes 18.

It is to be understood that I have described and shown, as one of the many ways to practically construct my invention, its preferred form only as an example, and that I may make such changes in the general arrangement and in the construction of the minor details of my invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims, without departure from the spirit of my invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Inaclosingandlockingdevice for dumbwaiter doors, a pulley on the frame of each door, a chain attached at one end to each door near the outer edge thereof, and guided overits pulley, a cable suspended from the dumbwaiter ceiling, a spiral spring from which said cable is suspended and passed through the end links of said chains, a means in each of said end links for guiding the cable and constituting an abutment, a plurality of eyes screwed into the dumbwaiter shaft wall through which said cable is passed, the abutment of each chain adapted to strike against the eye corresponding thereto for limiting the chain and cable movements, and a means to engage and hold the lower end of said cable upon the closure of all doors to lock the same, tensioning said spring.

2. In a closing and locking device for dumbwaiter doors, chains attached at one end near the outer edge of each door, pulley on the frames of said doors over which the other ends of said chains are guided, a nut in the outer link of each chain, a cable passed through each nut, a spiral spring for suspending said cable from the dumbwaiter ceiling, screw eyes above said nuts projecting from the dumbwaiter wall through which said cable is passed, said nuts constituting abutments for engaging said screw eyes to limit the upward movements of chains and cables, and a means for securing the lower end of said cable when said doors are closed to look all doors simultaneously against individual opening.

Signed at'New York, in the county of New vYork and State of New York this 22nd day of September, A. D. 1928.

WALLACE A. CURTIS. 

